**Home Bargains Unveils Ambitious Mega-Store with Garden Centre in Newport, Promising 90 New Jobs**
Retail giant Home Bargains is set to open a sprawling, new outlet in Newport, South Wales, marking a significant investment in the area’s retail landscape. The highly-anticipated store, located at Mendalgief Retail Park in Maesglas, is due to welcome shoppers on 31 May 2025, following months of building work and a planning process that first began over two years ago. Spirited anticipation has enveloped the local community, with many expressing excitement at the fresh addition to the city’s retail mix.
The brand-new store, which will also feature an in-house café and a dedicated garden centre, will be among the largest Home Bargains sites in the country. At an impressive 3,000 square metres, it’s set to offer more space, wider aisles, and an enhanced shopping experience compared to its predecessor at the same spot. This mammoth unit eclipses the size of many other local stores, effectively dwarfing Newport Retail Park’s existing outlets.
Crucially, the £10 million investment is not merely in bricks and mortar, but also in job creation. Home Bargains is set to bring around 90 employment opportunities to Newport, with vacancies currently advertised for a variety of positions. Roles include team leaders, who can expect a salary of £30,887 per annum, and café staff, with hourly pay rates between £12.21 and £12.50. Both full-time and part-time positions are available, signalling an inclusive approach for those seeking different working arrangements.
The location for this ambitious venture has a storied retail history. It stands on the former site of a Lidl supermarket and an older, smaller Home Bargains branch, both of which were demolished in May 2024 to pave the way for the new development. The demolition, while met with some nostalgia from long-time residents, has since been seen as a necessary step for revitalising Newport’s shopping options.
What sets this Home Bargains apart is its multi-faceted offering. The inclusion of a garden centre propels it into an exclusive club of just six Home Bargains stores in Wales with such facilities – joining locations at Crosshands (Llanelli), Brynmawr, Cardiff Bay, Denbigh, and Prestatyn. The addition of a café is also favourable for customers seeking a more leisurely, one-stop shopping experience. Company officials hope these features will elevate the Newport site to a “destination” store for both locals and visitors from further afield.
Parking and accessibility have also been thoughtfully considered in the store’s design. Shoppers will benefit from 175 parking spaces, including bays for families and disabled customers, as well as a shelter for bicycles. This focus on accessibility is in keeping with modern retail expectations and should help the store attract a broad range of shoppers.
The development has generated significant local interest. Residents have spoken of their eagerness for the store’s arrival, particularly since the planning application was submitted at the start of 2023. “We can’t wait for it to open,” said one local shopper, capturing the prevalent mood of excitement and anticipation that surrounds the opening.
The store’s retail neighbours underscore its prime position in Newport’s commercial scene. Immediately across Docks Way are established outlets such as TK Maxx and Pets at Home, as well as a much-loved local eatery, The Protein Shed. To the east, shoppers will find Starbucks and Greggs drive-thrus, while the nearby 28 East Retail Park hosts other major national chains including The Range, Halfords and B&M Bargains, contributing to a thriving, competitive shopping environment.
For those interested in either shopping at, or working at, the new Home Bargains, further details – including opening hours and current vacancies – can be found via the company’s official website. As Newport prepares for this major retail launch, it remains to be seen how the store will shape the city’s consumer habits, and whether its ambitious scale will set a new standard for high street shopping in South Wales.